._) ART. 1— B. KOTO: 



from oö° N. lut. to 43° N. lut.; Italy from 3 6 7,° to 467»°. They lie, as 

 we have seen above, in nearly the same latitude of the temperate zone, 

 and enjoy an agreeable, transitional climate, neither too wet nor too 

 dry. Both are inhabited by peoples of very ancient culture. 



However similar in their general outlines, there are yet many 

 points of dissimilarity, especially in regard to their internal geological 

 components and structures, and their external land-forms. Italy is 

 not wanting in young geologic formations, while Korea is in the 

 main built up of Archaeicum and Palseozoicum. Though both curve 

 a little to the east, Korea is mountainous on the side of the Sea of 

 da] »an, and rather flat toward the Yellow Sea ; while in Italy the 

 Apennines run along the axis of the country. 



This Asiatic Italy, fitly called by W.E. Griffis the " Land of the 

 Hermit Nation," was secluded from the rest of the world for a long- 

 time, and even her old neighbours, the Japanese and the Chinese 

 were strictly and vigilantly prevented from penetrating into the 

 country. It is a unique patch of the earth's surface, terra incognita in 

 all respects, excepting eight free ports and the two inland towns, 

 where over 20,000 Japanese and men of other nationalities have made 

 themselves at home, but know nothing of what lies a few kilometers 

 from them in the interior. Consequently, hitherto, only a few 

 Westerners have made trips into the country, and studied the land 

 and its people. Lately, I have twice made winter journeys in the 

 peninsula, in 1900-'01, and L901-'02, extending over fourteen month. 

 I spent 266 days in travelling over the interior in a caravan- 

 like suite with six men and four ponies, daily marching nearly 20 

 kilometers, and covering altogether 6, 300 kilometers or L,575 ri. As 

 will be seen on the annexe I map, my routes run nearly equidistant, 

 crossing and recrossing the peninsula from one shore to the other, 

 thus enabling 1 me to sret an idea «J* the general land-forms and 



